Akufo Addo Orders Removal Of Posters On Residence

Candidates contesting for the various executive positions in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who think they can identify themselves with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a popular figure in the party, and use that as strategy to win the hearts of the delegates to vote for them, must start revising their notes.

The 2012 flagbearer of the party simply does not want any candidate to use his name as a campaign tool to woo the delegates because he does not want to create any faction in the party.

Signals picked up by this reporter indicate that prior to the arrival of the Nana Addo in the country, after almost six months holidays in the UK, he instructed his security to remove all posters bearing his effigy and the contesting candidates from the walls of his Nima residence.

Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, who received a rousing welcome at the Kotoka International Airport, when he finally touched down after previous postponements about his coming to Ghana, wants every candidate to contest and win his or her position on merit, but not through him.

The head of security at Nana Addo’s residence, Mr. Rashid, confirmed in a telephone interview with The Chronicle that he and his colleagues indeed removed all posters that bore the effigy of Nana and other contestants from the walls of his boss’ residence. He, however, denied that it was the 2012 flagbearer who instructed him to remove the posters.

According to him, it was a decision he took on his own, and that he did not want any candidate to use his boss as a springboard to win any position in the upcoming National Delegates conference of the party.

According to him, he wants Nana Addo to remain as neutral as possible, and that allowing the posters on the walls could send wrong signals to the delegates and followers of the party.

Prior to the arrival of the potential candidate for the 2016 elections on the ticket of NPP in the country, there were rumours that some of the candidates vying for the various positions in the party were using his popularity to their advantage.

Some of these candidates were also reportedly telling the delegates that they have the backing of Nana Addo and that they should be voted for.

Already, four candidates have filed to contest for the National Chairmanship position. They are: Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Fred Oware, Paul Afoko and Steven Ntim.

Paul Afoko’s vetting has been put on hold, following an alleged petition against him, but the party has asked him to continue with his campaign.

In the case of the secretaryship position, four candidates have also filed for approval by the delegates. They are – Captain Effah Dartey (Rtd), Kwabena Agyapong, Sir John and Yaw Buaben Asamoah.